How to grow Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

🌿 Herb 🔁 Perennial

Mild onion-flavoured leaves from spring to autumn and pretty purple, edible flowers. Comes back every year.

At a glance: Sow mid April to mid June, harvest from mid June.

When to sow, plant and harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Sow outdoors

Harvest

Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.

Mid April – mid June · around the last spring frost
Sow Seeds Outdoors
Sow thinly in shallow drills where they are to grow. Sow small clumps of 6–8 seeds per module.
10–14 days after “Sow Seeds Indoors” · Late April
Check Germination
Seedlings should appear in 10–14 days. Keep the compost moist. If sown outdoors, thin to 20 cm apart.
56–77 days after “Check Germination” · Mid June – mid July
Start Harvesting
Snip leaves 3 cm above the base with scissors; they regrow quickly.

March
Divide the Clump
Every 3–4 years, lift and split large clumps into smaller pieces to keep them vigorous.
April
Start Cutting
Fresh chive leaves are back — start cutting.
June
Cut Back After Flowering
Cut the whole clump to 5 cm after flowering for a fresh flush of tender leaves.
November
Tidy for Winter
Chives die back in winter. Clear old leaves; they reappear in spring.